Mignolet's Agent Opens Can Of Worms!

26 February 2013 05:37

Simon Mignolet's agent has spoken out in Belgium this week, linking the goalkeeper with a move away from Wearside.

Sport Wereld quote Mignolet's representative as saying "The ambition is to bring Simon somewhere so he can enter into competition with Thibaut Courtois, who is lucky enough to play in a team that is doing very well."

The quotes were made to Belgian TV station ATV.

Mignolet and Courtois are battling it out to be Belgium's long term first choice goalkeeper.

The country also have Jean-François Gillet and he started the last match, but the 33 year old Torino goalkeeper isn't thought to be considered above the other two in the long term.

Of England's Top Five, where would Mignolet get a regular first team place?

What would be the point of leaving Sunderland to sit on the bench elsewhere?

He is getting Premiership games . so what is the problem?

I'll tell you what "the problem" is - a greedy agent who gets his 20% IF the goalkeeper moves on!

Manchester United are still persevering with David de Gea (and probably will next season, too), Chelsea have Cech and Courtois, Manchester City are happy with Hart and Tottenham have no problem with Hugo Lloris.

That leaves Arsenal, who still struggle with Wojciech Szczęsny.

SUNDERLAND-MAD - FEBRUARY 20th .

Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet is wanted by both Arsenal and Manchester United, according to The Sun.

The Belgian international has kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League and Arsene Wenger was very impressed during the Gunners 1-0 win over Sunderland earlier this month as the keeper made a string of fine saves.

The 24-year-old signed for the Wearsiders in 2010 for £2 million from Belgian side Sint-Truiden.

The Arsenal manager is going through the toughest period of his career.

Eight seasons without a trophy, and he lost his rag on Wednesday with a reporter who asked if the Arsenal boss had been offered a two year contract.

Wenger got into a slagging match - and came off second best.

Wenger has challenged his side to put last night's 3-1 defeat at home to Bayern Munich behind them and regroup to mount a final push for Champions League qualification again next season.

Wenger - who earlier this week hit out at a growing number of critics following a shock FA Cup exit at home to Blackburn - accepted the Gunners had been outclassed by the ruthlessly efficient Germans in the first leg of their last 16 European tie at the Emirates Stadium last night.

Arsene Wenger: "We will have two battles, but maybe the easier battle will be to be back in the Champions League.

"However, we have to give everything to try and change things in the second leg.

"But let's not hide the truth: it will be extremely difficult against a team of that quality.

"We have to give our best and hope we have built our confidence up a bit more, because that belief will be needed.

"The quality of my players is there, but they are not getting reward for their efforts.

"I still have confidence in my players and in my team but on this evidence there is clearly work to be done.

"However, you have to give them (Bayern) credit for their class. In patches in the first half, it was a difference of quality in their display to ours."